To aid Ghana’s attempts to modernize its secondary education system and do away with the dual-track system in Senior High Schools (SHSs) by the year 2027, the World Bank has authorized a $300 million funding package.
One big project aiming to increase access to good education is the Transformative Secondary Education for Results and Relevance for Jobs (STARR-J) Project, which will put the money to use.
STARR-J Project to Transform Secondary Education in Ghana
The STARR-J Project is one of the government’s most ambitious education interventions since the introduction of the Free Senior High School policy. The project aims to strengthen Ghana’s secondary education system by expanding educational opportunities, improving learning outcomes, and making education more relevant to labour market needs.
A key goal of the initiative is to end the double-track system, which was introduced to accommodate the increasing number of students benefiting from Free SHS but has faced criticism due to shortened contact hours and infrastructure limitations.
Through strategic investments in school infrastructure and improved learning conditions, the government expects that no secondary school in Ghana will operate under the double-track system by 2027.
Investment in Ghana’s Future Workforce
Commenting on the World Bank’s approval, Minister of Education Haruna Iddrisu described the project as a significant investment in the country’s future.
“This initiative represents a significant investment in Ghana’s vibrant youth demographic and serves as a strategic enhancement to the nation’s long-term human capital growth and global standing”, he stated.
According to the Ministry of Education, the STARR-J Project will help expand access to learning opportunities, improve school facilities, and align secondary education with the skills demanded by today’s labour market.
The ministry also expressed appreciation to World Bank Country Director Robert Taliercio O’Brien, the World Bank Education team, and the Ministry of Finance, led by Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, for their continued support in transforming Ghana’s education sector.
“The STARR-J Project underscores the government’s dedication to providing fair access to high-quality secondary education, empowering Ghanaian students with the essential knowledge and skills needed to succeed in a competitive global economy,” the ministry noted.
50 Senior High Schools to Be Upgraded
President John Dramani Mahama recently announced that the government would end the double-track system in SHSs by 2027 through the $300 million World Bank-funded STARR-J initiative.
Under the project:
- Thirty Category C Senior High Schools will be upgraded to Category B status.
- Twenty Category B schools will be upgraded to Category A status.
- Secondary schools across the country will receive infrastructure improvements to accommodate more students.
Teachers to Receive Digital and AI Training
The STARR-J Project will also focus on teacher development. All secondary school teachers are expected to benefit from continuous professional development programmes, including training in digital literacy and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in teaching and learning.
The initiative is expected to strengthen Ghana’s education system, improve learning outcomes, and equip students with the skills needed to compete in an increasingly digital and global economy.
